I'm Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, AMA!

Howdy from me (Dr Karl Kruszelnicki), ready to go at (my) 1059 Sydney Time.

Dear All, Thanks so much for this fantastic experience - I had no idea it would be like this and so much fun.

Come to my book signings for Book 34 (Game of Knowsns) (drkarl.com) and chat/ask questions (you don't have to buy a book to be My New Best Friend For Ever).

Love to do this again (now that I know how it works).

Karl

Doctor Karl - Who is your scientific hero? Why?

scientific hero? Why?

Richard Feynman. He said - Stick to the facts, ignore opinions. Nature doesn't lie.

Dr. Karl,

Maroubra Beach is covered in pumice at the moment (and the bodies of Bra Boy enemies naturally), has a undersea volcano erupted that we don't know about or is this floating around from some terrestrial eruptions ages ago?

Also - rather than buying Dr Karl Reddit Gold someone should organise a crowd funding effort to thank Dr Karl in the form of a collection of the LOUDEST shirts that can be bought on the internet.

Maroubra Beach is covered in pumice at the moment (and the bodies of Bra Boy enemies naturally), has a undersea volcano erupted that we don't know about or is this floating around from some terrestrial eruptions ages ago?

Really? Got pix?

what was your strangest experience as a taxi driver?

Strangest experience as a taxi driver? Getting lost in the huge Yagoona Tip(garbage dump) at 0200, with no stars to navigate out by, and out of radio range. I had to wait for dawn.

Why were you at the tip?

Took a short cut ...

Hi Dr. Karl, just wanted to say I've been a massive fan since I was knee high to a grasshopper, you were a huge inspiration to me seeking a career in science. Couple of questions...

What, in your opinion, are the biggest challenges science and science education are currently facing in Australia?

You seem to have an almost prodigal knack for retaining all sorts of information across the entire spectrum of science. Is there any preparation/research involved in your podcasts/radio show, or is this all just pulled out of your brain on the spot? If the latter, is this a talent you've always had, or something you've developed over time?

Cheers!

What, in your opinion, are the biggest challenges science and science education are currently facing in Australia?

Lack of respect for the the Concept of Education > lack of funding

Is there any preparation/research involved in your podcasts/radio show,

1) The reading of $10,000 of scientific/medical/etc literature per year 2) Formalising this fuzzy information inside brain into stories (radio, net, books, etc) 3) Repeat for one third of a century

Hey Dr Karl! What is the most astounding fact you can tell us about the universe/life in general?

What is the most astounding fact you can tell us about the universe/life in general?

1)all the gold you will ever touch was made inside an exploding star 2)Kilogram for kilogram, your compost pile generates 33,000 times more power than our Sun

Do you smoke weed? Do you think it will be decriminalized or legalized for medical use in Australia?

Do you smoke weed? Do you think it will be decriminalized or legalized for medical use in Australia?

NSW has just REJECTED the medical use of marijuana for six very specific conditions (terminal cancer, loss of appetite due to chemotherapy, etc). The NSW Govt WRONGLY claimed that the medical data was against the efficacy of marijuana in these six very specific conditions. One thing I learnt as a doctor - we currently all have to die, what matters is that you have a Good Death. Why are we denying these people in pain the opportunity for a Good Death? NSW Govt - please reconsider.

What would you change about Australian politics at the moment with respect to science?

"What would you change about Australian politics at the moment with respect to science?" Treat "science" as though it was an investment in the future, not a short-term cost.

Hoorah, one hour down, another half-hour to go (for this time). Karl

On a scale of 1 to Homeopathy, how excruciatingly annoying is it that you can't tell people straight up "it's placebo, your friend isn't actually experiencing that" to so many questions on the J's?

Homeopathy? There seems to be zero data backing up its supposed efficacy - apart from the Placebo Effect. The Placebo Effect is real, but still poorly understood. K

Good morning Dr Karl I love listening to you every Thursday morning on the way to work! live streaming and living in WA ftw!

a quick question for you which fence do you sit on . FTTN? or FTTP?

a quick question for you which fence do you sit on . FTTN? or FTTP?

1) Fibre 2) The optic fibre that goes to your home is identical to the fibre that joins the capital cities 3 The current data transmission record for fibre is 1 billion Mb/sec. It will go much higher. Copper can't go above 100 Mb/sec.

Hi Dr Karl, why is it that sometimes when I look up at an analog clock it looks like the second hand has just ticked backwards?.

Also the batteries are fine.

Second hand ticks backwards? The time taken for vision to get processed (light landing on retina>Brodman Areas 17,18, 19 >full 3D colour vision) is about 300 milliseconds. There are "glitches" in this imperfect system. I read a paper on this very topic about 8 years ago, but don't have time to find it right now. Sorry.

Dr Karl, I remember you did a lot of television adds back in the 90s about the dangers of microsleeps on the road. Considering advances in car design in the past few years and the role fatigue plays in traffic accidents, do you think it's time to raise the speed limit on some Australian roads?

Also, beetroot on a burger, yay or nay?

beetroot on a burger, yay or nay?

The best thing about beetroot is the red colour in the toilet bowl the next morning > short-term panic about cancer > long-term relief and satisfaction after realising that it was only beetroot (again).

Hi Dr Karl. Do you think living at high altitude would be a good substitute for aerobic exercise? Would you even need to exercise?

Do you think living at high altitude would be a good substitute for aerobic exercise? Would you even need to exercise?

One always HAS to exercise. IF you exercise hard all your life, you will lose a few % of strength in your 40s, a few more % in your 70s - but will enter your 80s with ~95% of strength you had in your 20s.

Dr Karl, What is your opinion on the current educational apparatus as relevant to todays needs, especially with respect to the research of people such as Sir Ken Robinson.

Do we need an educational seachange, or do you think that the current system is adequate.

Education. When I was in Bangkok Airport checking in a group of schoolkids (I was not the teacher, but she was in hospital, so I took over), the person behind the counter asked if I was a teacher. I said "yes" because it was too complicated to explain full story. She then upgraded me to Business Class. Only when we all treat ALL teachers (childcare to University) with that kind of respect, will the Education System be unbroken.

Dr Karl, thanks for providing your time today.

Can I ask you about your own beliefs regarding the nature of reality?

Do you think we make reality with our thoughts?

Can I ask you about your own beliefs regarding the nature of reality?

Reality is for people who can't handle drugs.

If lightning strikes in the ocean or a large body of water does it make a splash?

Lightning hits water? I dunno if it makes a splash. Anybody got hard answer?

Hi, I see you have a lot of education under your belt in a lot of technical areas. I have a degree in Mechanical engineering since I like to rebuild anything. However, the job has nothing to do with that, mostly just sitting at a desk an doing nothing. Do you have any recommendations? I think you wikipedia page said you used to be a mechanic. How did that go?

Unhappy in job?

Every time I was unhappy, I left for something different. Sometimes I knew that the new field would make me happy, sometimes I didn't. But I jumped. But in general, on each occasion, my income would go down (typically 10-85%)

Dr Karl, how do you cope with people phoning into Triple J asking science questions relating to penises? I feel bad for you.

Radio questions about genitals? Not worried about it at all. It's not just Terrorists that have genitals and have sex - "regular" people do have both as well. It's just another body part(s) between the belly part and the knees.

Hi Dr Karl! I've been a fan of your books ever since my parents bought me a couple almost 10 years ago.

I would like to ask you what is: * the most important research you've done/read/seen; * and what is the most interesting research you've done/read/seen?

Thanks! I'm looking forward to getting your next book for Christmas (it's almost a tradition!)

what is: * the most important research you've done/read/seen;

Done - what causes belly button fluff and why is it almost always blue Read - Bow St Pump (keep your drinking water separate from sewage) Seen - Large Hadron Collider > (understanding of what causes the strange phenomenon called Mass) > in the future, switch Mass off?

Hey Dr Karl, I always loved your books and the way they put sciencey stuff into accessible language, so thanks for actually getting me to read.

As a scientist and an immigrant that dabbled in politics, do you worry about the way climate science and immigration policy is heading?

As a scientist and an immigrant that dabbled in politics, do you worry about the way climate science and immigration policy is heading?

Yes - but given enough time, the pendulum will swing.

What do you see as the most effective thing Australia can do to combat climate change? Like spamming solar panels everywhere or perhaps invest in moonshots such as getting fusion power viable.

What do you see as the most effective thing Australia can do to combat climate change?

Set up the Zero Carbon Australia plan (Uni of Melbourne) to generate all of our electricity from renewables THEN sell the technology to the rest of the world. Solar thermal would provide 60%, wind 40%. Would give us electricity - averaged out over 30 years - at ONE-THIRD the price of burning carbon. Australia is the ideal Prototype Location, as we have a huge surface area and low population.

Another 15 minutes to go of Lots of Fun.

Dear Dr Karl,

I've gotten into debates with some people and would like to know how you handle similar situations.

How do you deal with people who dispute known facts and well tested theories that go against their beliefs? I'm not talking about people who interpret the same thing differently (e.g. a lot of economic theory) but people who dispute things like evolution, the WW2 holocaust, and global warming.

How do you deal with people who dispute known facts and well tested theories that go against their beliefs? I'm not talking about people who interpret the same thing differently (e.g. a lot of economic theory) but people who dispute things like evolution, the WW2 holocaust, and global warming.

It's difficult.

In USA, 46% of population don't accept the Science of Geology, Radioactive Dating and Evolution. (but they are fine with Metallurgy, Engineering, some parts of Astronomy). The Australian figure is 31%.

Dr Karl, what is your favorite smell?

Jasmine flowers in spring and new babies

Firstly sorry for bugging you so much on Twitter.... Can you tweet you're doing this for proof please? (pesky rules)

My 5 questions from the Iama request

1.How did you go from being a taxi driver to doctor, to broadcaster, all round science go-to guy?

2 What question has been your favourite in your years of broadcasting?

3 You walked across Spain your podcasts indicate that was a religious thing. Are you spiritual, and if so how does this effect your views on science.

4 Why does every podcast seem to have a question about faeces. Is it an Aussie obsession?

5 What's the deal with the shirts?

You walked across Spain your podcasts indicate that was a religious thing. Are you spiritual, and if so how does this effect your views on science.

I'm happy to believe in a God - but not a God that cares about each of us individually. Otherwise, why would several million children under the age of 5 die each year.

What's the deal with the shirts?

1) I love bright colours 2) Why should women have the monopoly on bright colours 3) Part of the Millennia-old tradition of "stage clothing" 4) Ever enjoyed the flash of colour in a city on a winter's day when you see somebody in non-black/grey clothing?

How did you go from being a taxi driver to doctor, to broadcaster, all round science go-to guy?

Random noise of the Universe + working hard + being prepared + being open to the Awe and Wonder of the Universe + never letting myself get bored ++++

Hi Dr Karl, great to see you on Reddit! On climate change, I'm sure nobody will argue that it's real, but... is it really all our fault? Like, 100% our fault? Or are we merely contributing some portion of it with our pollution?

On climate change, I'm sure nobody will argue that it's real, but... is it really all our fault? Like, 100% our fault?

100% our fault. We knew that Climate Change was real back in 1988 - and have wasted the last 25 years.

• What has been one of the oddest experiments you have done to test something?

• Personal question, given your family history with boat people. What is you thoughts on the current Australian policy?

• Is there anything you have wanted to study, but haven't had the opportunity?

• When I seen you at UTas, you spoke of your time at Cheyenne Mountain, have you ever had a chance to go back there?

• What's one thing you hate about science?

• Have you thought about running for government again?

• Whilst your partner was pregnant, did you do any experiments on her? How did she take it?

• How do your kids friends take it when they find out your THE dr Karl?

• One last one, How do you relax?

Personal question, given your family history with boat people. What is you thoughts on the current Australian policy?

My father was a "person smuggler", smuggling Jews out of Nazi-occupied Poland.

Is there anything you have wanted to study, but haven't had the opportunity?

Geology, metallurgy, so much

How do you relax?

Family, exercise, just "be" with whatever's happening around me and go with the flow.

Whilst your partner was pregnant, did you do any experiments on her? How did she take it?

Nope

Dr Karl. Have you ever considered a go at politics? And if so, what party would you join? Or would you fly solo? VOTE ONE DR KARL!!!!!

Have you ever considered a go at politics?

I failed mightily in the 2007 Federal Election, as a Senate candidate. I personally got (below the line, if you understand what that means) 40,000 votes out of the 750,000 I needed. One would need a few million $ for advertising - as very few people knew that I was running for the NSW Federal Senate.

Hi Dr Karl! My boyfriend is a huge fan (me too, but not as much as him). I buy him one of your books every Christmas. He wanted me to ask you: Why do we feel heat from mustard or wasabi in the nose, but chilli heat on the tongue?

Why do we feel heat from mustard or wasabi in the nose, but chilli heat on the tongue?

1) Dunno 2) I know that the receptors (VR2) for chilli are on the tongue. Dunno where receptors for wasabi are? In nose?

Hi Dr Karl! About 5 years ago you met my husband (then boyfriend) at a cinema at Randwick, he was working on the door taking tickets and you were seeing an XMen movie. You both started talking and you ended up inviting my husband and I to the ABC studios for a day while you did your radio shows. I just want to say thank you! That was one of our most entertaining adventures and you were so kind (you even bought us breakfast). I usually have a million questions buzzing in my head but I can't remember any right now so I'll just ask this: What are your plans for Christmas?

Xmas? To make another rainbow (for the front of the house) to replace the one that died.

Hi Dr Karl, huge fan (as both an Australian, a scientist, and an owner of a ridiculously long surname). Your books were a staple of my reading collection as a kid!

Two questions;

1) Do you have any relatives in WA... I met a girl with the exact same last name as you, figured it was rare enough that you would probably be at least somehow connected.

and the main question...

2) How did you get into science outreach and education? Do you think it's worth going through established programs (Questacon etc.), or just trying to take a job in something close and work toward it?

I'm currently in the 3rd year of my PhD... and seriously starting to doubt academia is for me. My favourite parts were tutoring and spruiking science on the open days, so I figure that might be worth chasing...

Do you have any relatives in WA... I met a girl with the exact same last name as you, figured it was rare enough that you would probably be at least somehow connected.

There are a few (but not many) Kruszelnickis around. We seem to be all out of Lvov/Lviv/Landberg in Ukraine/Poland several generations ago.

Are redheads actually going extinct? Or is that just a myth?

Are redheads actually going extinct? Or is that just a myth?

Debunked in Book 28, Never Mind the Bollocks. The genetics about redheads, blondes and blue eyes is (1) very complicated (2) wrongly taught at high schools in an overly simplistic manner.

Howdy Dr Karl, I've wondered this for a while now, for no particular reason. Would somebody who had just died either burn, tan or none of the above if left out in the sun?

Would somebody who had just died either burn, tan or none of the above if left out in the sun?

No tan, as that is caused by melanin (yup, same chemical in iris) laid down by living melanocytes. Dry out - yes

Hey Dr Karl.

Why do blue eyes seem to dull as one gets older? Is it a common occurance or is the dye leaking out?

Why do blue eyes seem to dull as one gets older?

Blue colour is due to (Rayleigh's Law of Scattering) acting on (melanin particles in iris). With age, more melanin particles get laid down > less intense blue.

I've heard you mention that you like to do free Skype sessions with schools. What is the best way of getting in touch to line that up with my school? Thanks Dr Karl.

I've heard you mention that you like to do free Skype sessions with schools. What is the best way of getting in touch to line that up with my school?

Ring the University of Sydney, and ask for me.

12 minutes to go - a Big Finish...

Dr Karl, first of all, have always been a huge fan whenever you're on Triple J! Which technological advancement that is soon to go mainstream are you most excited about and why?

Which technological advancement that is soon to go mainstream are you most excited about and why?

3D printing. It will be as big as Printing in 1450, Steam in 1750 and Transistors in 1950.

Listened to you for over a decade through triple j and bbc5, thanks for your time as always.

How do you manage to determine the content and collate materials for upcoming abc sci talks/ books. Do you have a rough list and just build folders of related content waiting for a couple of perfect articles to come out?

How do you manage to determine the content and collate materials for upcoming abc sci talks/ books.

I read $10,000 of scientific/medical/engineering/etc literature each year > whatever I find astonishing.

Dr Karl, if we were to place large mirrors on the moon and have them facing at a certain spot on Earth, could we potentially have daylight in that place 24/7?

if we were to place large mirrors on the moon and have them facing at a certain spot on Earth, could we potentially have daylight in that place 24/7?

Not if we had them on the Moon, but yes, if we had them in GeoStationary Orbit.

Why do I feel thirsty after a nap?

Saliva production is about 1,000 ml/day (750-1,500). Drops enormously when asleep > dry mouth > local feeling of thirst.

Does it ever irritate you to have people call up asking the same question time after time? What is your most disliked question you regularly receive?

You're a hero, someone to aspire to be like, and I'm an immense fan :-)

Does it ever irritate you to have people call up asking the same question time after time?

Never. One thing I learnt being a roadie for Bo Diddley, after hearing him sing the same songs, night after night. For the audience, it's their first time.

Well nobody else seems to have asked this yet, so: would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or 1 horse-sized duck?

100 duck-sized horses. It's a standard military/business/political technique - divide, and then conquer.

Hey there Dr. Karl!

In your first book "Great Moments in Science" there was a young picture of you with half a beard. Literally, straight-down-the-middle-shaved-on-one-side half. The captioned mentioned something along the lines of a psychological experiment. Was there any legit science going on here (and if so can you elaborate?) or were you just being a bit kooky and going off!?

Half-a-beard?

Just having fun. But I had to stop as my appearance was making some older and more fragile people anxious.

Hi Dr Karl!

I'm a Brisbane based pervert and a fetish performer and I sometimes do skill shares why I try and explain the technique and reasoning for the way that I hit people as part of BDSM play and performances.

When I explain stuff, I try and explain the physics as much as I can. But I'm an IT guy who's got an incomplete bachelor of business, and who recently returned to uni to study health care. Most of what I know about physics is from year 10 science classes, Mythbusters, and self education on the internet.

When I talk about the physics of spanking people, or hitting them with whips, paddles, canes or what have you, I generally talk about Newton's second law (F=MA), Newtons or FPS as a measure of impact, and how mechanical efficiency impacts the amount of energy that's being transferred, and how quickly it's transferring. I also talk about surface area of the impact and how that changes the way the energy transfer might feel.

Then I talk about leverage, and the leverage and acceleration as a whip 'wraps' around something, and about things like energy transfer medium and compression (about how energy is used in compressing air trapped at the point of impact, or how water isn't compressible under the circumstances at hand, and a wet hand will transfer energy differently than a hand cupping and catching air at the point of impact).

When I talk about these things, I'm not talking to scientists, I'm just talking to whatever collection of people interested in BDSM happen to want to learn a bit more about hitting people for consensual adult entertainment. I'm mostly just trying to explain to people what they should consider before the act, so they can predict how things are going to work out with less trial and error.

Are there any other obvious areas that you can think of that I should talk about? I also talk about a bunch of things like physiology and where to hit people to get predictable results, technique for how to hit without causing injury or unwanted excessive pain, and to the best of my knowledge - how the biochemistry of being hit with things and having it feel good works, and the implications of manipulating personal biochemistry to get a good feeling out of it. I've been able to talk to lots of medical professionals about those areas over the years and they've been able to give me a pretty comprehensive list of things to research or work on understanding, but talking about the applied physics of the activity with engineers or physicists has always been a bit problematic - so I'm never sure if I've thought of all the important things to research.

Thanks in advance! Scootah

The Physics of Perversion? I had no idea of how subtle was the Physics.

Hi Karl! I read in one of your books that idling the engine is very bad for your car, yet many mechanics i have talked to say that it is necessary when it gets around -20C (which it does where i live). Could you explain your reasoning here (i have lost the book and it was a long time ago i read it)?

idling the engine is very bad for your car, yet many mechanics i have talked to say that it is necessary when it gets around -20C (which it does where i live)

Minus 20C!! I have no knowledge of how to deal with auto engines in that extremely hostile environment. I would follow the experts (the local mechanics who have to fix what breaks).

Hi Dr Karl.

Just wondering in your opinion how far we are away from the next jump in science and technology?

I feel that all the huge breakthroughs in science are overshadowed by the invention of a fridge with a TV on the front.

Do you think true science will make it to the limelight any time soon and bring in a new age?

Also, I love Science hour on Triple J. Keep up the good work!

how far we are away from the next jump in science and technology?

1) Dunno 2) Breakthoughs coming up in Dark Matter, Dark Energy and Mass/Higgs - but dunno when.

Dr Karl, love your show on Triple J, when I do a stretch on the first attempt I can get to a certain point, after then immediately relaxing, then going back into the stretch I can reach further. Why?

when I do a stretch on the first attempt I can get to a certain point, after then immediately relaxing, then going back into the stretch I can reach further

You are "standing on the shoulders of giants" - stretching on top of a previous stretch (when then becomes the new baseline"

Does the Mpemba effect work in reverse (i.e. does cooler water boil faster than warm)?

Does the Mpemba effect work in reverse (i.e. does cooler water boil faster than warm)?

1) Dunno 2) Why don't you do the experiment? (It could mean an IgNobel...)

Hey Dr. Karl, huge fan. What's your one, golden piece of advice for someone wanting to enter the world of science communication? I'm in the final stages of my PhD and, once free, want to bring science to life for the greater public as you (and others) have done. Thanks!

What's your one, golden piece of advice for someone wanting to enter the world of science communication?

Start as soon as possible. Find out what you love best (writing stories, interviews, Q&A) and make it a part of your life. Repeat.

What causes a shook up bottle of soft drink to explode everywhere when opened, but importantly how does it settle down when left sealed for a period of time?

What causes a shook up bottle of soft drink to explode everywhere when opened, but importantly how does it settle down when left sealed for a period of time?

Important Law coming up***

Stuff goes down its local concentration gradient

**

Ball rolls down a hill. Gas goes from high concentration to low concentration.

Hi Dr Karl... Is it possible Dark Matter existed before the big bang and matter exploded into it like a cloud of milk into water?

Is it possible Dark Matter existed before the big bang and matter exploded into it like a cloud of milk into water?

Conceptually, yes. Mathematically, dunno. Why not work it out?

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. What do you thinof reading books? Can you suggest something easy to read? Im kind of new to books. Thank you!

What do you thinof reading books? Can you suggest something easy to read? Im kind of new to books.

Start as I did - with Fairy Tales of all the nations and Science Fiction.

Hey Dr Karl! What do you see in the future of space exploration? Is asteroid mining the way Togo?

What do you see in the future of space exploration? Is asteroid mining the way Togo?

Once we get through the unnecessary expense caused by dealing with Greenhouse Effect/Global Warming/Climate Change/Crises, we will become a Space-going race.

If my theory on Dark Matter should be worked out. How does a curious professional creative go about it?

Dark Matter?

Study at a University.

Hi Dr Karl,

Will the Higgs Boson lead to a better understanding the force of gravity?

• I use the analogy of the professor in the student field to understand the Higgs boson.

Will the Higgs Boson lead to a better understanding the force of gravity?

Yes. But we don't understand either Gravity or Mass - and their connection.

Do algae generate heat as a part of their living process?

Are they permanent?

Do they generate CO2?

(These are questions raised after reading some bad science on warming by Larry Pickering, the cartoonist)I posted a copy here.

Algae? All living creatures (hot- or cold-blooded) generate some heat (due to Laws of Thermodynamics) Generate CO2? Yes

What are your thoughts on big Pharma controling medicine prices and discrediting natural alternatives that could work more effectively/safely?

What are your thoughts on big Pharma controling medicine prices and discrediting natural alternatives that could work more effectively/safely?

Very complicated.

Triple J is the home of Doctor Karl, which is all well and good. What are your thoughts of Commercial / Contemporary radio?

What are your thoughts of Commercial / Contemporary radio?

It's part of the package that is the totality of radio.

I have a bit of an odd question that might get looked over, but I've always wondered...

If I go to the toilet and do a wee at 10am, and don't drink anything for the rest of the day, why will I still have to go to the toilet a few hours later at 2pm? If I released all the urine in me earlier, where does the rest of it come from if I don't drink anything?

Urine? Your two kidneys filter 1,500 kg of blood each day, and generate about 1 ml/minute of urine. This is (to a minor degree) independent of short term minor water intake. But, if you drink lots/no water, then kidneys will shift (under influence of Osmolality/Salt sensors>Anterior Pituitary>ADH/Vasopressin) to making lots/very little urine.

Dr. Karl, whats it been like doing so many jobs during your life? I remember reading something where you have been a taxi driver and a roadie at one point.

Dr. Karl, whats it been like doing so many jobs during your life? I remember reading something where you have been a taxi driver and a roadie at one point.

It gives you the empathy to walk in another person's shoes, and feel and live as they do.

Hi dr Karl. Can you please give us your views on the ITER project for nuclear fission. What's your thoughts on its viability or time it will take

ITER project for nuclear fission. What's your thoughts on its viability or time it will take?

Fusion has great potential. Time? The sooner the better.

[deleted]

2nd IgNobel? I have a plan ....

What data would you have to collect to debunk the stupid chemtrails conspiracy? Atmospheric samples? Soil samples? What would be the simplest thing to do to show that it's probably[1] a load of rubbish?

[1] polite scientific term

What data would you have to collect to debunk the stupid chemtrails conspiracy? Atmospheric samples? Soil samples?

Yep. But, with proper controls, and a wide enough sample.

Dr Karl, what is something in science that you are baffled by?

what is something in science that you are baffled by?

Dark Matter, Dark Energy and why the Moon "appears" bigger on the horizon.

Dr. Karl,

Is Ison going to be the great comet of 2013/14 -- visible by the naked eye and brighter than the sun?

Thank you for doing this AMA.

Is Ison going to be the great comet of 2013/14 -- visible by the naked eye and brighter than the sun?

Comets are like cats - they do exactly what they want.

Dr Karl, do you prefer jelly beans or jelly babies?

Dr Karl, do you prefer jelly beans or jelly babies?

Because they worked so well for my patients when I was a doctor at the Sydney Kids Hospital, jelly beans.

Hi Dr Karl

I want to engage kids in Science, and i'm looking for small experiments that I can wow them with. This is more getting them engaged in science rather them enquiring how it happens.

Do you have any tips for me? Do you have any go to things that just amaze kids?

I want to engage kids in Science, and i'm looking for small experiments that I can wow them with.

Go to abc.net.au and search for Ruben Meerman/Surfing Scientist. He has LOTS of pdfs and videos for small experiments that involve mostly household stuff.

Dr Karl, in your opinion, when will science have gone too far?

when will science have gone too far?

When it does more harm than good?